For decades, this music was outlawed. They were sung in whispers behind closed doors
But now they're sung in public without fear. Libya's Berber people, the Amazigh, have lived here for centuries
Their culture rooted in land and tradition. This flag, these symbols, and even the language that these songs were written in were once forbidden
Under Muammar Gaddafi, Amazigh identity was suppressed. Amazigh names were banned. Their language, Tamazite, was outlawed
And musicians say they would play in secret. This Amazigh celebration is called Yanayr
and it marks the beginning of the agricultural year, basically a New Year celebration
The feelings we have can't be described. As men, women, and children, this is a day of prosperity for us
We hope that what we plant will be harvested in great bounty for all of Libya
but especially for Amazigh people. It's held here in Yifrin, in the Nafusa Mountains
a place where Amazigh culture has survived despite people's hardship. There's a feast, traditional clothing, and a pride that feels new
because for years, Yanayir couldn't be celebrated. The Amazigh played a crucial role in the revolution
that toppled longtime leader Gaddafi in 2011. Fifteen years later, they're free to practice their traditions
with a renewed sense of identity and pride in their culture, one they hope to pass on to future generations